Head coach Geordan Murphy is hoping that the 'Welford Road factor' will take full effect on Saturday when his Leicester Tigers' side host Wasps in the Gallagher Premiership.

In a season that has had more downs than ups so far, Tigers desperately need to find some consistency and they had been starting to show that with their home performances in the Premiership.

There last two home league games - which seem in the distant past now - brought bonus-points wins over Harlequins and Gloucester either side of Christmas and New Year, and while Tigers were able to field a full contingent of international players for those fixtures there is still enough quality within the squad to maintain that winning home form.

"We have said it all year two or three wins on the trot will put you at the top end of the table," Murphy said in the build up to this weekend's game.

Read More

Latest Leicester Tigers news

"We are at the bottom end of the table at present and it is tight. The margins are very fine. We lost by one score last weekend (at Worcester) which was a particularly difficult pill to swallow so it is important we turn it around, important that we don't make excuses and focus on our performance."

The vocal backing of the Welford Road faithful will help them to achieve that, as Murphy added. "Our last two Premiership outings at home we had really good wins and really good performances, more pleasingly. Hopefully the fans get in behind us on Saturday.

Read More

"It has been a tricky year for them but I think the crowd at Welford Road have been amazing for us all season. They have been very supportive and that's when we've played our best rugby."

Despite neither side being close to their best - or full-strength - in recent weeks, Murphy still feels the accent will be on attack.

"Wasps like to play rugby, they like to throw the ball around," he said. "Very similar to us they have a few injuries and a few bumps and bruises but they have got some guys coming back now so I would expect both sides to go out with the aspirations of playing rugby and for it to be an entertaining game if the weather conditions are conducive."